Change Your Life for the Better: 5 Ways, 2 Blocks

The thing I brag about most to people who don’t live in Greenwood is that we have just about everything you need all within a few-mile radius. But I suppose other Seattle neighborhoods would likely boast the same.

So I was recently contemplating what I think is a uniquely eclectic flavor of Greenwood, both in the people and the places. And as I was taking inventory of the establishments that line the two blocks of Greenwood Ave. on either side of 85th, I thought, hey, there’s even more to this place than meets they eye. In addition to beautiful flowers, cool antiques, a killer falafel sandwich, and a nice hair cut, you can get stuff that could change your life, or someone else’s, right here in Greenwood.

Here’s what popped to mind:
1. Learn about that pesky notion of non-attachment, and other Buddhist insights, at Pema Kharpo (8554 Greenwood Ave. N). Rigdzin, the owner, is a delight and will gladly offer guidance (and a laugh).
2. Adopt a cat or kitten from PAWS Cat City shelter (8503 Greenwood Ave. N). Give a cat a good home and get a cozy companion for yourself–it’s a double warm fuzzy. (Read more in Jason Argo’s latest post.)
3. Break bread with your neighbors at a free Community Dinner hosted by Upper Crust Catering (8420 Greenwood Ave. N) every Thursday night at 6 p.m. How cool is that?
4. Become a writing tutor at 826 Seattlelocated behind Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. (8414 Greenwood Ave. N). A much better use of your writing chops than beating your head against the wall trying to get the next big idea to flow.
5. Finally learn to play the guitar at Rosewood Guitar (8402 Greenwood Ave. N). Haven’t you been talking about this for years?

So this is just what I noticed in a quick look down the block. What do you see in Greenwood that could change your life, or someone else’s, for the better?